Advertisement

Yaya Toure open to moving to Man Utd where he could 'teach Paul Pogba some things'

Yaya Toure is a free agent this summer - Getty Images Europe
Yaya Toure is a free agent this summer - Getty Images Europe

Yaya Toure believes he would be a good “teacher” to Paul Pogba as the outgoing Manchester City midfielder admitted he would not rule out a move to Old Trafford.

Toure is a free agent this summer after Pep Guardiola opted not to renew his contract at the Premier League champions but the Ivorian midfielder has indicated that he would not be averse to making the switch across the city to rivals Manchester United.

Jose Mourinho is in the market for at least one central midfielder following the retirement of Michael Carrick, with United working on a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fred.

But Mourinho could be forced into the market for a second midfielder if Marouane Fellaini, who has attracted interest from AC Milan, fails to agree a new contract.

With United already targeting two full backs, a centre-half and a winger, Toure would be a relatively cheap midfield option for Mourinho.

And the 35-year-old says he would be open to the transfer, despite his allegiance to City where he spent eight years, as he weighs up his next career move.

Maroane Fellaini in action for Man Utd  - Credit: AFP
Maroane Fellaini could leave Untied this summer, too Credit: AFP

“Yeah he just left,” Toure said about Carrick’s retirement at United. “Let’s see, let’s see. I don’t rule big teams out. The big teams are very important for me. What they want to achieve, the way they want to go, for me is very important.

“I want to go somewhere I can win and achieve. It’s going to be hard one day to play against City, but I have to do that. It is part of my job. I’ve been playing football for such a long time, I’m no good in the office or something else. I am good in football.

“To see myself at a different club is going to be difficult. I have been such a big part of City for such a long time now. I just want to say that definitely I will continue to play at a high level – Champions League or Europa League. I want to play two more years. They have to be in the higher level and then I can do something else.”

Toure, who is keen to stay in England despite offers from China, the Middle East and America, believes he could also help improve Pogba, whose future at Old Trafford is uncertain after a deeply disappointing second season at Old Trafford.

Pogba’s erratic form since the turn of the year has coincided with the Frenchman’s increasingly strained relationship with Mourinho but Toure believes he could be a mentor to the United midfielder.

Paul Pogba lies on the Wembley turf - Credit: Reuters
Pogba has failed to fully convince at United Credit: Reuters

“I love Paul Pogba,” Toure told the Manchester Evening News. “It’s difficult because of the way the media has treated him. We don’t have the same characteristics because for me I was involved in all the balls, I ran everywhere. I liked that. I was prepared for that. I was working for that for a long time.

“When I was in the academy in Africa I had to run everywhere, get box to box in 50 seconds.

“Pogba is the same size, power – but different in the way he wants to go, technically as well, the ability to score goals as well. It is a player I want to play with, to be honest, just to teach him some things.

“Pogba is a great player. He’s a fantastic player. He’s a little bit young at the moment. “Criticism is a part of life. If they criticise you it’s because they want you to be good or be better. I’ve been criticised and I love to be criticised. I like it. I don’t mind if people talk about me – it’s good. It means I have to achieve, I have to be better. Even if you continue to be at the peak of your game, sometimes they are going to find something to tell you. It’s part of life. We have to deal with that.”

Asked if he genuinely saw his next move at United, Toure sounded a note of caution. “No, no, no, no. The fans are going to kill me!” he laughed.